Chasing The Tour – Stage 3

Today the Tour went through some familiar countryside of Paris-Roubaix. However, the race turned its back on the infamous sections of pave and instead took us on roads winding through beautiful rolling hills of lush fields with various shades of green. The stage profile immediately appeared like it was going to be an animated race and that's exactly what it delivered. There was the usual early breakaway, heaps of crashes, Chavanel's suicide attack with 5km to go, and Segan's impressive win that nobody could do anything about. Sagan does it so easily it's almost like he's taking the piss on the rest of the peloton.

For those power nerds out there you can see Sagan’s SRM files from his win on Stage 1 a couple days ago. In the final 1.5km when Cancellara initiated the uphill sprint Sagan stayed on his wheel and averaged 493 watts in the last 2 minutes 20 seconds of the race (think of how much Cancellara was pushing). When Sagan came around Cancellara at the finish he surged to 1,236 watts and averaged 970 watts in the final 200 meters. Those are some big numbers, but he also has the tactical know-how to be able to win these races. And the kid was born in 1990…

For those of you reading who were at the Tour Down Under in 2009 you might remember Sagan’s first pro race where he joined Lance Armstrong and three others in a breakaway at the Cancer Council Classic. In his second year as a pro he won stages and the green jersey in Paris-Nice, a stage in the Tour of Romandie, and stages in the Tour of Cali. After that his palmares are too many to list and the rest is recent history.

He says he wants to wear the green jersey all the way to Paris. And why not? He’s already 43 points ahead of Cavendish and it’s hard to imagine him slowing down.

Photo Gallery

Gilbert was caught up in a crash with ~30km remaining and came in over 7 mins down.

Simon Gerrans was caught up in the same crash in which JJ Rojas (Movistar) broke his collarbone and had to abandon. Coming in behind Gerrans is Kroon and Langeveld, all 10:37 back.

Cadel Evans came in 6th on the stage but did not make any time up on Bradley Wiggins as he was held up in the crash and was given the same time as the bunch.

On the steep final climb Poels (Vaconsoleil) was the first to attack but then came a response from Albasini (GreenEDGE) who led around the second last turn. Westra (Vaconsoleil) got tangled up with Oscar Freire and crashed, holding up a number of riders. By then Sagan had leapt ahead to cross the line first.

The Peter Sagan fan club

The peloton making their way through the fields from Orchies to Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The bumblebee fan wearing number 51 – considered to be the “lucky” dossard of the Tour de France. This year Vincenzo Nibali wears number 51

Recon Wiggo should have lost some time last night. I know it was within the last 3 kms but it was far from a traditional sprint stage. What an exciting stage none the less!!

clyde

And if you watch the crash, Wiggo was safely around it before deciding to stop and check his bike. Soft.

Gus

Agree …. I reckon he knew he was going to drop time and took any opportunity he could to stop pedalling. Definitely should have lost time.

Derek

Is that any less tactical than following Fabians wheel, refusing to pass and help only to hang on and jump him at the finish?
Or to ask for the stage to be nullified because your whole team has crashed so it’s suddenly become too dangerous?
Carry on about suffering and panache but it’s chess on wheels.

Anonymous

Derek, what Wiggins did (or appeared to do) was dishonest and dishonourable (along with 2 of his team mates). He was trying to make sure he was judged to be ‘involved in the crash’ instead of riding on like all the other guys that were behind the crash. He was set to lose time to Evans and took a way out when it was presented to him. Possibly instructions from the team car as all 3 Sky riders stopped for no apparent reason.

Pedro

I must be missing something – I thought Wiggo got forced up against the barrier and went over the handlebars?

Yeah I agree too, but he WAS impeded by the crash and it would have been a pretty game commissar that did not award him the same time. If he did need to pull a stunt like that at such an early stage, one wonders how he will fare later on. If he had been up front like Cadel was it wouldn’t have been an issue in the first place.

Anonymous

Now that I saw this on the overhead replay shot on last night’s SBS coverage, I have lost all respect for Wiggins. What looked probable from the front-on view looked blatantly obvious from the overhead. Mick Rogers (shame on you too Mick – to be part of shit like this) rides up to a crashed rider instead of going round him, then Wiggins rides into Mick and bumps shoulders with him at about 5kph, gets off, checks the back wheel and tries to look like he’s part of the mess. That is the poorest thing I have ever seen in cycling and from a top GC contender too. Shame, shame, shame Bradley Wiggins. While Tomo and Keenan called him on it last night on TV and both agreed that it was ‘a smart move’, I can only disagree in the strongest terms. They also went on to say that Menchov, who was actually affected by the crash, was initially down to lose time, but appealed and was later included with the crash victims. You can see from the footage last night that Menchov was hurrying and trying to limit his time loss. Wiggins, who deserved to lose time, took the coward’s and cheat’s way out.

Mars

Question : Can you spell Peter Sagan?

Answer : P-A-N-A-C-H-E

I love this guy, he is having so much fun, his celebrations are reminiscent of beating your mates as you are first passing the 60km sign or cresting the next hill.

I want him to win more stages so I can see his next show.

Go Cadeelivans!

Ed

Who remembers Sagan during the Willunga Hill stage of the 2010 TdU – he got away with Cadel, Valverde & Luis Leon Sanchez on the final lap. Great company to be in. He is going to win a lot of classics over the next 10 years.

Rob

+1. Get him on the cobbles pronto!

Ed

Who remembers Sagan during the Willunga Hill stage of the 2010 TdU – he got away with Cadel, Valverde & Luis Leon Sanchez on the final lap. Great company to be in. He is going to win a lot of classics over the next 10 years.

jules

how long before he discovers coke?

Gus

No doubt Sagan has the goods …. but he is already coming across as more than a little pretentious. Can he maybe show just a little bit of humbleness? These are Tour Stages, but he is crossing the line like its the final act in a comedy show! Don’t know why … but it is already annoying me.
Maybe it’s just not in a sprinters nature to be humble …. certainly wasn’t in Robbie McKewans if his book is anything to go by!!

mattb

nah, I get where you’re coming from but I love it.
I think he is just having fun, and its not at anyone else’s expense.
If it bothers the other riders, all they have to do is to beat him to stop it.
After all, we aint saving babies here so its all about fun.

Lets not sanitise it too much, Cipo, McEwan, Cav all added/add flavour and energy to it, and thats part of what makes the sport great.

bracks_ashat

Atleast his salutes are better than Cavendish’s lame ones. Good on ya Peter, you’re young and full of energy. Enough of this “show some respect” blah blah blah. You’re not going to have everyone behave themselves just for the sake of making one person happy.

Pedro

All these guys are in the entertainment business right? Good on him for entertaining I say.

Paolo

What a role model is Sagan for the kids in Australia, who get fined $50 for raising there arms when winning a race? Haha, keep on dancing Peter, do whatever you want and don’t listen to the haters who would scream and dance if they would get anywhere near of winning a Tour de France stage (or two out of 4 at the age of 22). He seems humble enough off the bike and if anyone has an issue with his celebrations, go out, beat him and he won’t have a reason to celebrate. Easy as that.

jules

what is this $50 fine you are talking about?

Robert Merkel

Paolo, the rules against salutes in local racing is a safety issue as far as I’m concerned. Do you want some clown stuffing up their victory salute and crashing in front of you?

Club racing sprints are chaotic and dangerous enough without throwing that in the mix.

Robert Merkel

Paolo, the rules against salutes in local racing is a safety issue as far as I’m concerned. Do you want some clown stuffing up their victory salute and crashing in front of you?

Club racing sprints are chaotic and dangerous enough without throwing that in the mix.

Paolo

I understand the safety reason, don’t agree with it.If they would seriously worry about safety, why race with a big bunch of kids/U19/Elite etc. on small roads with oncoming traffic during official races (not talking club races) all the time. Santos North Western Tour anyone? Unlucky crash at a bad time and that’s it. Seems to be more a political , government issue though, unfortunately. There are definitely bigger safety concerns than a 17 year old boy raising his arms out of the excitement of winning. I just don’t like this rule as it tries to block the show of positive emotions, but that is what sport is about. At least Cadels salutes are usually in line with the aussie rules and the kids are often happy to pay for the enjoyment of crossing the line arms raised.

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